Department for Communities and Local Government

Cultural Heritage: Transport

lord faulkner of worcester: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether public grants to heritage railways and tramways are permitted under state aid rules where they fall within the English Aid for Cultural and Heritage Conservation State Aid Scheme.

lord bourne of aberystwyth: Public grants to heritage railways may be permitted under state aid rules provided they meet the eligibility and other criteria set out in Chapter 1 and Articles 53 and 54 of the General Block Exemption Regulation 651/2014. It was under this legislation that the English Aid for Cultural and Heritage Conservation State Aid scheme was notified to the European Commission.

Non-domestic Rates

lord mendelsohn: To ask Her Majesty's Government how much revenue they expect to receive in the next financial year from the tax on single business spaces covering multiple floors, as set out by the Valuation Office Agency; and what is their estimate of the average cost to each small and medium-sized enterprise affected by that change.

lord bourne of aberystwyth: The recent change in the Valuation Office Agency’s approach to assessing single business spaces covering multiple floors follows a Supreme Court judgement. The Government is considering the implications of this judgement, and any potential impact on small and medium-sized businesses. Following Budget 2016, the Government announced a wide-ranging package of measures to support rate payers, that will be worth £9 billion over the next five years.

Holiday Accommodation: Greater London

baroness gardner of parkes: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they are aware of the difficulties experienced by London borough councils in the enforcement of the 90 days a year limit for homeowners' short-term letting of their property.

lord bourne of aberystwyth: Where there are concerns about serious abuse of the 90 night limit a London Borough can seek a consent from the Secretary of State for the authority to make a direction to remove the freedom to short term let for 90 nights from that property. The criteria for assessing a request for consent are set out in the Department's planning practice guidance.

High Rise Flats: Fire Prevention

baroness jones of moulsecoomb: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made ofthe robustness of teststo determinethe extent to which materials are fire resistant carried out before the Grenfell Tower fire, compared with tests conducted by the Building Research Establishment more recently; and whether therobustness of those tests has any impact on the availability of Government financial assistance to housing providers for the replacement of materials that are a fire hazard.

lord bourne of aberystwyth: Since 2006, Building Regulations guidance has provided two approaches to testing materials for use in cladding systems. These are to either test the combustibility of each component or to test them as a system. The recent large-scale tests at Building Research Establishment are in accordance with this second approach. The Government will consider the system of Building Regulations in light of the Independent Review on Building Regulations and Fire Safety, the findings of the Public Inquiry and ongoing work to review building safety. The Government expects building owners to fund measures designed to make a building safe and to draw on existing resources to do so. A decision on financial assistance for social landlords will be determined on the basis of their ability to pay for essential fire safety works, and they should contact the Department or the regulator for social housing to discuss the position.

High Rise Flats: Fire Prevention

baroness jones of moulsecoomb: To ask Her Majesty's Government whose responsibility it was, prior to the Grenfell Tower fire, to ensure that tests on wall cladding systems were carried out in a rigorous fashion; and who is responsible for assessing why such tests reached different conclusions in some cases to those carried out by the Building Research Establishment.

lord bourne of aberystwyth: The Building Regulations allow for a range of different approaches to demonstrating compliance. The responsibility for ensuring that the requirements of the regulations have been met rests with the person responsible for the work and this must be scrutinised by an independent building control body. The Government will consider these issues in light of the Independent Review on Building Regulations and Fire Safety, the findings of the Public Inquiry and ongoing work to review building safety.

Energy Performance Certificates: Conservation Areas

lord kennedy of southwark: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether it is a legal requirement to provide a prospective (1) buyer, and (2) tenant, with an Energy Performance Certificate whenever a dwelling in a conservation area is sold or let.

lord bourne of aberystwyth: An Energy Performance Certificate is required when either selling or renting a property in a conservation area unless a valid exemption applies. For example, listed buildings or buildings in a designated environment where compliance with certain minimum energy performance requirements would unacceptably alter their character or appearance.

Affordable Housing: Rents

lord marlesford: To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the remarks by Lord Bourne of Aberystwyth on 14 September following the statement on Local Housing Need, what is the basis of their classification of affordable rents as 80 per cent of market rents.

lord bourne of aberystwyth: Affordable Rent must be set at or below 80 per cent of market rents, so tenants will still benefit from sub-market rent. Actual levels of rents vary, and landlords must consider the local market conditions to ensure a fit with local circumstances when setting rents.Government introduced Affordable Rent in 2012 to maximise government investment in affordable housing, enabling the development of more homes for every pound of public spending. This has allowed us to build nearly 333,000 new affordable homes since 2010, including 240,000 affordable homes for rent.

Housing: Construction

the lord bishop of st albans: To ask Her Majesty's Government what is their assessment of the impact of the removal of the requirement for developers to provide a certain proportion of affordable housing in developments of ten homes or fewer on the number of rural houses completed in areas of population under 3,000.

lord bourne of aberystwyth: Government does not collect national data on the number of homes delivered in areas of population under 3,000.

Foreign and Commonwealth Office

Burma: Rohingya

lord ahmed: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they have made any representations to the government of Myanmar regarding the recent violence against the Rohingya community.

lord ahmad of wimbledon: ​Following the recent outbreak of violence in Rakhine State, the Foreign Secretary has twice spoken with State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi and has raised our concerns. Our Ambassador in Rangoon has also raised our concerns with the Burmese authorities. We convened discussions on Burma at the UN Security Council on 30 August and 13 September. The Foreign Secretary convened a meeting of foreign ministers at the UN on 18 September during which he called on the Burmese National Security Adviser and Deputy Foreign Minister present to heed the Security Council’s call to stop the violence and ensure full humanitarian access in northern Rakhine.Our High Commissioner in Dhaka has discussed the situation with the Government of Bangladesh.

Burma: Armed Conflict

the lord bishop of coventry: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assistance and support they are providing the government of Burma and other parties in Burma to de-escalate the crisis in Rakhine State.

lord ahmad of wimbledon: The UK is one of the largest development and humanitarian donors to Burma and to Rakhine State. Since 2012, we have provided over £30 million in humanitarian assistance, including on food and sanitation for over 126,000 people.The UK is also the largest bilateral donor supporting displaced Rohingya refugees and the vulnerable communities which host them in Bangladesh. The Department for International Development has allocated £20.9 million to respond to humanitarian needs between 2017 and 2022.On August 30 and September 13, the UK raised the situation in Rakhine in the UN Security Council. We also discussed Burma at the September session of the UN Human Rights Council. Our immediate priority is to make sure food and medical assistance can be provided to displaced civilians from all communities. We urge the Government of Burma to address the growing humanitarian crisis in Rakhine and implement the recommendations of the Kofi Annan-led Rakhine Advisory Commission.

Burma: Rohingya

lord alton of liverpool: To ask Her Majesty's Government what measures they will seek to take through the UN Security Council in response to the crisis in Rakhine State, Burma, following the recent discussions in the Security Council.

lord ahmad of wimbledon: The UK has raised Burma twice at the UN Security Council since the outbreak of the current violence, and secured the Council's first press elements on Burma in eight years. I refer the Noble Lord to the UK Permanent Representative's remarks to the press following the 13 September Security Council consultations, in which he said that the UK would get to work on further products, such as a Presidential Statement.The UK has been active in other fora in response to the crisis in Rakhine. The Foreign Secretary convened a meeting of Foreign Ministers to discuss Rakhine at the UN General Assembly on 18 September, where he pressed for an end to the violence and full humanitarian access. The Minister of State, Rt Hon Mark Field MP discussed these points further in an OIC event at UNGA on 19 September.The Prime Minister also urged the Burmese military to stop the violence in Rakhine State and announced the UK would suspend defence engagement until the issue is resolved.I have also raised Burma in the Human Rights Council on 11 September, where I strongly condemned the violence and pressed the security forces, who are in the lead in Rakhine, to protect civilians and abide by international norms. The UK also discussed Burma during the Interactive Dialogue with the Fact Finding Mission on 19 September, and the Item 4 statement on the same day, and pressed Burma on the same points.

Burma: Rohingya

lord alton of liverpool: To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to press the government and military of Burma to allow unhindered access to all areas of Rakhine State for international aid organisations, human rights monitors, and media.

lord ahmad of wimbledon: The Foreign Secretary spoke with State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi on 7 and 17 September. He raised our concerns about the continuing violence in Rakhine State, the need for any allegations of human rights abuses to be investigated and for humanitarian access to be granted to affected communities. He also convened a meeting of Foreign Ministers to discuss Rakhine at the UN General Assembly on 18 September, where he pressed for an end to the violence and full humanitarian access. The Minister of State discussed these points further in an Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) event at UNGA on 19 September.The Prime Minister also urged the Burmese military to stop the violence in Rakhine State and announced the UK would suspend defence engagement until the issue is resolved.I have also raised Burma in the Human Rights Council on 11 September, where I strongly condemned the violence and pressed the security forces, who are in the lead in Rakhine, to protect civilians and abide by international norms. The UK also discussed Burma during the Interactive Dialogue with the Fact Finding Mission on 19 September, and the Item 4 statement on the same day, and pressed Burma on the same points.We will continue to urge the Burmese authorities to allow the access of aid, food and medication to all affected communities in Rakhine. We are working closely with them to support this.The Burmese authorities organised a visit of local and international media to Maugdaw in Rakhine State at the end of last week.

Sint Maarten: Hurricanes and Tornadoes

lord macpherson of earl's court: To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to help British nationals stranded on the Caribbean island of Sint Maarten.

lord ahmad of wimbledon: Providing assistance to vulnerable British Nationals affected by Hurricane Irma has been a consistent priority. Fifty two British Nationals have been assisted to leave St Maarten. We have deployed consular teams to Curacao and Guadeloupe to help those who have left.For those that remain on the island, a two person Foreign and Commonwealth Office Rapid Deployment Team is assisting British Nationals at the airport, while an Urban Search And Rescue (USAR) team, made up of 59 nurses, doctors and building experts, is providing support elsewhere on the island. We are in close contact with the Dutch, French, German and US Authorities who are providing aircraft for assisted departures. Those persons wanting to leave St Maarten will be prioritised through a triage system at the airport with the most vulnerable people given priority.

Israel: Palestinians

baroness tonge: To ask Her Majesty's Government what representations they are making to the government of Israel regarding the detention of Palestinian legislative council members.

lord ahmad of wimbledon: While we have not raised the issue of the detention of Palestinian parliamentarians with the Israeli authorities, we remain concerned about Israel’s extensive use of administrative detention which, according to international law, should be used only when security makes this absolutely necessary rather than as routine practice and as a preventive rather than a punitive measure. We continue to call on the Israeli authorities to comply with their obligations under international law and either charge or release detainees.

Israel: Bedouin

baroness tonge: To ask Her Majesty's Government what representations they are making to the government of Israel regarding reports that Israeli forces have demolished a kindergarten in the Bedouin community of Jabal al-Baba.

baroness tonge: To ask Her Majesty's Government what representations they are making to the government of Israel regarding reports ofthe confiscation of solar panels that had been donated to the village of Jubbet Al-Dhib.

baroness tonge: To ask Her Majesty's Government what representations they are making to the government of Israel regardingreports ofthe demolition by Israeli forces of school buildings which were built using EU funds from the village of Jub-Ad Dhib.

lord ahmad of wimbledon: I raised the UK’s concerns about the demolitions of schools in Area C when I met the Israeli Ambassador on 29 August. The EU missions in Jerusalem and Ramallah issued a local statement expressing strong concern over recent confiscations, by the Israeli authorities, of Palestinian school structures in Bedouin communities in the West Bank. The statement referred to confiscation of solar panels in Abu Nuwar (9 August), a kindergarten in Badu el Baba (21 August), and the dismantling of an elementary school in the village of Jubbet Adh Dhib close to Bethlehem (22 August). Demolitions and evictions of Palestinians from their homes cause unnecessary suffering to ordinary Palestinians; call into question Israel’s commitment to a viable two-state solution; and, in all but the most exceptional of cases, are contrary to International Humanitarian Law.

Yemen: Military Intervention

baroness tonge: To ask Her Majesty's Government what action they are taking following reports that British armaments have been used by Saudi Arabia in the Yemen to target innocent civilians.

lord ahmad of wimbledon: The UK Government takes its arms export licensing responsibilities very seriously and operates one of the most robust arms export control regimes in the world. Our defence exports to Saudi Arabia are kept under careful and continual review to ensure they meet the rigorous standards of the Consolidated EU and National Arms Export Licensing Criteria. All export licence applications are assessed on a case-by-case basis, taking account of all relevant factors at the time of the application.

Refugees: Libya

lord alton of liverpool: To ask Her Majesty's Government how they intend to respond to the letter from Joanne Liu, International President of Médecins Sans Frontières, that was sent to the Prime Minister on 6 September concerning the conditions faced by peopledetained in Libya.

lord ahmad of wimbledon: We are aware of Medecins Sans Frontieres’ open letter to the Prime Minister and share their concerns about the standards of treatment those in detention face. This is why we are providing assistance to improve conditions in detention facilities as well as encouraging Assisted Voluntary Returns, and will continue to do so. This activity is specifically designed to protect migrants' human rights and improve conditions. It is underpinned by the 'do no harm' principle and we have checks in place to make sure that is the case. The key is to break the business model of smugglers and to prioritise interventions upstream in countries of origin and transit to reduce the need of migrants to leave their home country or move on from a safe third country in their region.

Libya: Refugees

lord alton of liverpool: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether, during his recent visit to Libya, the Foreign Secretary discussed reports that the Libyan Coastguard threatened and fired upon search and rescue vessels.

lord ahmad of wimbledon: We are aware of such reports. During his visit in August, the Foreign Secretary raised the Libyan Coastguard with Prime Minister Serraj, underscoring the importance of respecting human rights and international law. We have made clear that all vessels must operate in accordance with maritime law and any behaviour that threatens legitimate search and rescue activity is not acceptable. The Libyan Coastguard training package – which the UK is helping to deliver – aims to help develop a corps of professional Libyan Coastguard personnel with the skills required to manage search and rescue activities properly, whilst respecting human rights and international law.

Libya: Refugees

lord alton of liverpool: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether, during his recent visit to Libya, the Foreign Secretary visited detention centres for refugees; and what information they have collected about conditions in those centres.

lord ahmad of wimbledon: The Foreign Secretary did not visit any Libyan detention centres during his visit to Libya in August 2017, but did visit a centre in an earlier visit. The Foreign Secretary raised the importance of adhering to international human rights standards with Prime Minister Serraj. We are very concerned about humanitarian conditions inside Libyan detention centres, particularly those not controlled by the Libyan Government. The UK is working to improve conditions and protect migrants' human rights in detention centres through its programming. The UK has provided £3.2 million in Libya for direct assistance in detention centres. We are also providing Assisted Voluntary Returns from Libya: this programme has supported the return of more than 1,400 migrants to their home countries.

Libya: Refugees

lord alton of liverpool: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether, during his recent visit to Libya, the Foreign Secretary was made aware of the case of a 12-year-old boy from Mali who was picked up by the Libyan Coastguard following the death of his parents in the Mediterranean, and who was returned by that coastguard into a detention centre intended for adult males; and if so, what action they have taken to assist (1) that unaccompanied child, and (2) other similarly detained unaccompanied minors.

lord ahmad of wimbledon: We are not aware of this particular case. We are concerned about the risk to unaccompanied minors who are detained in Libya and about detention conditions across the board. The UK is working to improve detention conditions through our programming. The key is to break the business model of smugglers and to prioritise interventions upstream in countries of origin and transit to reduce the need of migrants to leave their home country or move on from a safe third country in their region.

Iran: Political Prisoners

lord maginnis of drumglass: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the statement by Amnesty International on 22 August concerningconditions imposed on political prisoners in Gohardasht and other Iranian prisons, particularly the finding that around 20 such political prisoners are on hunger-strike; and what representations they have made, or diplomatic pressure they have imposed, on the Iranian authorities to take such life-preserving action as may be necessary.

lord ahmad of wimbledon: ​Reports about mistreatment of political prisoners in Iran are deeply concerning. I urge Iran to allow the UN Special Rapporteur for Human Rights in Iran access to the country in order to carry out an independent assessment of prison conditions and the wider human rights situation in the country.

Israel: EU External Relations

lord hylton: To ask Her Majesty's Government what is their response to the publication in June by the European Council on Foreign Relations of Israel's unlawfully prolonged occupation: consequences under an integrated legal framework.

lord ahmad of wimbledon: While the UK has not made a specific assessment of the European Council on Foreign Relations report, it has long been the Government's view that Israel's presence in the Occupied Palestinian Territories is governed by the provisions of the Fourth Geneva Convention of 1949, to which Israel is a state party. We repeatedly call on Israel to abide by its obligations under international law and have a regular dialogue with Israel on legal issues relating to the occupation.

Pakistan: Minority Groups

lord hylton: To ask Her Majesty's Government what representations they have made to the government of Pakistan about the Supreme Court Order of 2014 requiring the establishment of a task force and a national council of minority rights; and what explanation they have received, if any, regarding the lack of progress and their disestablishment.

lord ahmad of wimbledon: We regularly raise our concerns about the protection of minority communities with the Government of Pakistan at a senior level. The Foreign Secretary discussed the importance we attach to safeguarding the rights of all Pakistan's citizens during his visit to Pakistan in November 2016.The former Minister for Asia and the Pacific, my hon. Friend the Member for Reading West (Mr Sharma), raised the protection of minorities with Kamran Michael, former Minister for Human Rights, and Barrister Zafarullah Khan, former Prime Minister's Special Assistant for Human Rights, during a visit to Pakistan in January 2017.While we have not raised the 2014 Supreme Court judgement specifically, we have encouraged the implementation of the National Action Plan on Human Rights, which includes the establishment of an independent National Commission for Minorities. We continue to press Pakistan to take the steps necessary to ensure it complies in full with its human rights obligations and that the rights of all its citizens, including minorities, are respected.

Venezuela: Foreign Relations

lord patten: To ask Her Majesty's Government what is their assessment of relations between the UK and Venezuela.

lord ahmad of wimbledon: The UK aspires to have good relations with Venezuela but the current political situation there has put a strain on the relationship as we have joined international condemnation of the Venezuelan Government's recent actions. Our Embassy maintains a practical working relationship with the Venezuelan Government. Where we can, we work with the Government on a range of priority issues including human rights, democracy challenges, counter-narcotics, climate change and efforts to protect UK commercial interests. This work supports our long-term vision for Venezuela’s stability, democracy and prosperity.

Bahrain: Human Rights

lord scriven: To ask Her Majesty's Government what action they plan to take in the light of the remarks by the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights that the government of Bahrain's restrictions on human rights since June 2016 mean that "democratic space in the country has essentially been shut down".

lord ahmad of wimbledon: The UK Government monitors events in Bahrain closely. We raise human rights concerns with the Bahraini authorities in private and in public and will continue to do so. We encourage the Government of Bahrain to deliver on its international and domestic human rights commitments.

Kurds: Human Rights

lord patten: To ask Her Majesty's Government what is their assessment of the welfare of the Kurdish people in Syria, Turkey and Iraq.

lord ahmad of wimbledon: Kurdish people in Syria have suffered during the conflict, alongside much of the country's population, including through the brutality of both the Assad regime and terrorist groups like Daesh. As such Syrian Kurds have been amongst the recipients of UK aid in our largest ever response to a humanitarian crisis (£2.4 billion since the start of the crisis). UK funding is distributed on the basis of need, to ensure civilians are not discriminated against on the grounds of race, religion, or ethnicity. In the same way, our policy position is that a transition away from the Assad regime to a government that can protect the rights of all Syrians, unite the country and end the conflict is necessary to protect all minority groups: we continue to use all of our diplomatic levers to advocate for this.All communities in Iraq have also suffered at the hands of Daesh. We are committed to ensuring that the Kurds in Iraq can look forward to a brighter future within a stable, democratic and unified Iraq. One that can provide the security, jobs, healthcare and education that all Iraqis want and deserve, including the Kurds. The Department for International Development has provided £209.5 million in life-saving humanitarian aid to Iraq since June 2014, which has helped to support internally displaced people across Iraq, including those hosted in the Kurdistan region.We are concerned by ongoing violence and reports of civilian casualties in South Eastern Turkey where a significant proportion of the Kurdish community live, and a worsening humanitarian situation in that region. We urge the Turkish state to treat all of its citizens equally, regardless of ethnicity or faith. We regularly urge the Turkish authorities to respect human rights, including the right to freedom of expression, and to support the rule of law. We will continue to monitor these issues closely.

Bosnia and Herzegovina: Transport Community Treaty

lord wallace of tankerness: To ask Her Majesty's Government what stepsthey aretaking to encourage the signing of the Transport Community Treaty by Bosnia and Herzegovina.

lord ahmad of wimbledon: The Transport Community Treaty was signed by Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) on 19 September 2017. The Government actively supported EU-led efforts to encourage Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) to sign up to the Treaty. The Treaty is an important step to improve infrastructure and transport links in BiH and the Western Balkan region.

Taimoor Raza

lord alton of liverpool: To ask Her Majesty's Government what information they have about the case of Taimoor Raza who has beensentenced to death in Pakistan for allegedly breaking the blasphemy laws on social media; and what representations, if any,they have made on his behalf.

lord ahmad of wimbledon: We are aware of the case of Taimoor Raza, a Pakistani national who was sentenced to death on 10 June 2017 after allegedly making blasphemous remarks on social media. We understand Mr Raza has submitted an appeal to the High Court.The UK remains firmly opposed to the death penalty in all circumstances. While we have not raised Mr Raza's case directly with the Pakistan authorities, we have repeatedly called upon the Government of Pakistan to end capital punishment and, at a minimum, commit to publicly renewing the previously imposed moratorium on the death penalty. We regularly raise our concerns about freedom of expression and the misuse of the blasphemy laws with the Pakistani Government at a senior level.The Foreign Secretary raised misuse of the blasphemy laws during his visit to Pakistan in November 2016. The former Minister for Asia and the Pacific, my hon. Friend the Member for Reading West (Mr Sharma), discussed the death penalty and the importance we attach to freedom of expression with Kamran Michael, former Minister for Human Rights, and Barrister Zafarullah Khan, Prime Minister's Special Assistant for Human Rights, during a visit to Pakistan in January 2017. The Government will continue to urge Pakistan to honour in practice its human rights obligations, including those related to the death penalty and freedom of expression and religion.

Caribbean: Hurricanes and Tornadoes

lord berkeley: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they intend to require those off-shore companies and funds that are registered in UK territories in the West Indies to contribute to the cost of repairs of infrastructure damaged by Hurricane Irma within the territory in which those companies and funds are registered.

lord ahmad of wimbledon: We are currently focussed on the immediate humanitarian response to Hurricane Irma, and supporting the territories’ preparations for Hurricane Maria which we expect to cause further damage to some of the territories over the coming days. Each Overseas Territory has its own unique constitution, laws and powers to generate revenue. Therefore, the question of how off-shore companies or funds might contribute to the costs of repairing infrastructure is one for the respective Overseas Territories Governments.We are working in partnership with the Overseas Territories Governments on a long term plan to help repair the damage caused. Most of the people affected by Hurricane Irma in the Overseas Territories are British nationals and the UK stands ready to support their governments in their recovery efforts.

Northern Cyprus: Airports

lord sharkey: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they have held discussions with officials in Northern Cyprus concerning security arrangements at Ercan International Airport; if so, what were the (1) objectives, and (2) outcomes, of those discussions; and if they have not held such discussions, why not.

lord ahmad of wimbledon: The Government has not discussed security arrangements at Ercan with officials in the northern part of Cyprus. The Republic of Cyprus has not designated Ercan as an airport under the 1944 Chicago Convention on International Civil Aviation. The Court of Appeal has ruled that direct flights from Ercan to the UK therefore cannot take place. Flights from Ercan to the UK land first in Turkey where passengers, their baggage, and any cargo are screened before the aircraft continues on to the UK.

Department for International Development

Caribbean: Disaster Relief

lord blencathra: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether there are any restrictions in (1) UK law, or(2) international law, which would prevent or limit the use of funds from the budget of the Department for International Development for the reconstruction of the Turks and Caicos Islands, Anguilla, and the British Virgin Islands.

lord bates: There are no restrictions in UK or international law on the support for reconstruction that we can provide to the overseas territories.There are, however, rules on what is counted as Official Development Assistance (ODA), which are set by the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development’s Development Assistance Committee (DAC). These rules include a list of the developing countries and territories to which support given by donors can be classed as ODA. In the case of Anguilla, the British Virgin Islands and the Turks and Caicos Islands, their Gross National Income per capita exceeds the limit for them to be considered developing countries. The Secretary of State wrote to the Chair of the DAC to raise the issue of whether these rules should be adjusted to reflect the scale of the impact in this case.This does not impact our response in the region – the government has committed £57m to date for immediate relief and we will match every pound donated to the Red Cross [up to £3m].

Disaster Relief

lord marlesford: To ask Her Majesty's Government what proportion, and what total sum of the budget of the Department for International Development, in each of the last ten years, has been used for emergency assistance to countries suffering from the consequences of natural disasters such as hurricanes, typhoons or earthquakes.

lord bates: The amount of UK Official Development Assistance (ODA) spent on humanitarian assistance in each of the last 10 years is provided in the table below. In line with the OECD Development Assistance Committee (DAC) classification, this includes expenditure on emergency response, reconstruction relief and rehabilitation, and disaster prevention and preparedness.This expenditure covers humanitarian support to countries overseas suffering from the consequences of natural and man-made disasters. Detailed data is not collected to identify separately expenditure for natural disasters.UK bilateral Official Development Assistance (ODA) for humanitarian assistance, 2006 -2015, £ million.YearHumanitarian Assistance1,2 £ million200622020072942008367200948420103692011422201242520138252014111920151,266 Information on total UK ODA is available on gov.uk website1.The definition for humanitarian assistance is set internationally by the OECD Development Assistance Committee.2. The statistical data for ODA is collected according to use, such as sector or purpose, and not by event. Source: Statistics on International Development

British Overseas Territories: EU Aid

baroness sheehan: To ask Her Majesty's Government how much is provided from the European Development Fund to the governments of (1) the British Overseas Territories, and (2) Antigua and Barbuda.

lord bates: The following table sets out the indicative allocations under the 11th European Development Fund (2014-2020).Anguilla€14 millionAntigua and Barbuda€3 millionFalkland Islands€5.9 millionMontserrat€18.4 millionPitcairn€2.4 millionSaint Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha€21.5 millionTurks and Caicos Islands€14.6 million In addition, the Overseas Territories and Antigua and Barbuda are able to access Regional Funds under the EDF.

British Overseas Territories: Hurricanes and Tornadoes

baroness sheehan: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they have sought support from the European Development Fund for relief efforts in (1) the British Overseas Territories, and (2) other Commonwealth nations, impacted by Hurricane Irma.

lord bates: Needs assessments are being undertaken to help inform the response, including through the European Development Fund.

Ministry of Defence

Frigates

lord west of spithead: To ask Her Majesty's Government, in the light of the statements in the National Shipbuilding Strategy about theirintention to grow the Royal Navy fleet, what is their aspiration for the number of frigates for the Royal Navy by 2040.

earl howe: As explained in the Strategic Defence and Security Review 2015 White Paper and in the National Shipbuilding Strategy, our ambition is to sustain a destroyer and frigate force and to grow this force by the 2030s. The Type 31e General Purpose Frigate, which we announced our intention to procure on 6 September 2017, will give us the opportunity to do this, although we have not yet made detailed planning assumptions for the precise number of frigates that the Royal Navy will operate in 2040.

HMS Ocean

lord west of spithead: To ask Her Majesty's Government, in the light of the involvement of HMS Ocean in hurricane relief operations in the Caribbean, whether they will reviewplans to dispose of her at the end of the year.

earl howe: There are currently no plans to review the decision to decommission HMS OCEAN in 2018.

Type 26 Frigates

lord west of spithead: To ask Her Majesty's Government how long they anticipate it will take BAE Systems to build a Type 26 frigate; and what assessment they have made of that timescale.

earl howe: The first ship, HMS GLASGOW, is expected to be structurally complete in the early 2020s. This timescale is consistent with the engineering challenge of building the First of Class of a modern complex warship.

AWE Aldermaston

lord stoddart of swindon: To ask Her Majesty's Government why the Atomic Weapons Establishment (AWE)Aldermaston has been placed on special measures for the fourth year running; whether the AWE has produced a plan for dealing with high levels of radioactive waste; if not, why not; and whether they have made an assessment of the extent to which any failure to do so puts staff and residents in the area surrounding that establishment at risk.

earl howe: The Office for Nuclear Regulation (ONR) has stated that safety at the Atomic Weapons Establishment (AWE) sites is acceptable. The ONR's decision to place the AWE Aldermaston site under enhanced regulatory attention was due to issues relating principally to ageing facilities, which do not pose any immediate safety concerns.AWE has a plan in place for the long-term safe management of radioactive waste and this has resulted in the successful closure of the ONR's Improvement Notice regarding this matter.The Ministry of Defence works closely with AWE, monitoring all aspects of its performance, including regulatory compliance.

Military Aid

lord marlesford: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they have completed a review into the allocation of costs of using Ministry of Defence assets for emergency relief in cases of (1) natural disasters, and (2) the rescue of migrants at sea, to the budget of the Department for International Development.

earl howe: The appropriate allocation of operational costs is considered at the commencement of an operation and, where appropriate, reviewed annually. For most operations the Ministry of Defence (MOD) seeks funds for costs that are over and above existing funding arrangements. Where the Department for International Development (DfID) has requested the use of MOD assets to support humanitarian and disaster relief operations the additional costs may be recovered from DfID. The additional cost of the counter-people trafficking operation in the Mediterranean is met from the HM Treasury Special Reserve.

Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

Plastics: Recycling

lord blencathra: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they have any plans to consult on a proposal to phase out the use of black plastic containers, in the light of the inability of some automatic recycling sorting machines to recognise black plastic.

lord blencathra: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they have any plans to introduce legislation to require councils to accept polystyrene for recycling; and if not, whether they intend to ban the use of polystyrene as a packaging material once the UK has left the EU.

lord gardiner of kimble: The recycling of packaging has risen from around 46% to 60% over the last decade and our packaging regulations and policies incentivise businesses to use less packaging and to ensure that their packaging can be recycled at end of life. There are no plans to ban any specific packaging materials at this time. Almost all packaging is technically recyclable, including black plastic and expanded polystyrene. Some local authorities and waste management companies choose not to collect this type of packaging for recycling for various reasons, including cost of investing in new machinery which can sort this packaging. WRAP has published a report on the technical solutions to improve the separation of black plastic in the sorting process and is working with a working group of industry and local authorities to put in place arrangements to expand the collection and recycling of black plastic from households. Commercially, polystyrene is collected for recycling and producers are supporting work to increase recycling of this material. It is not commonly collected at the kerbside for recycling due to its bulk and low value as a secondary material.

Birds of Prey: Conservation

viscount ridley: To ask Her Majesty's Government how many hen harrier nests in the UK were located in areas where the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds had primary control over access in (1) 2015, (2) 2016, and (3) 2017; how many of those nests failed to have any chicks fledge; and what were the known causes of those nest failures.

lord gardiner of kimble: Wildlife conservation is a devolved matter so this reply relates to England only.   The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) has primary control over access to two known hen harrier breeding sites: the RSPB reserve at Geltsdale and United Utilities landholding in the Bowland Fells.   Between 2015 and 2017, eight nests were located on these sites, six of which failed to fledge young.   Further details including known causes of nest failures are shown in the table below.   Year SiteMonitored byOutcome Nest failure reason2015United UtilitiesRSPB1 Chick Fledged 2015United UtilitiesRSPBNest failedMale disappeared2015United UtilitiesRSPBNest failedMale disappeared2015United UtilitiesRSPBNest failedMale disappeared2015United UtilitiesRSPBNest failedMale disappeared2015United UtilitiesRSPBNest failedPredation2015RSPB GeltsdaleRSPBNest failedMale disappeared2016RSPB GeltsdaleRSPB1 Chick FledgedThere were no nests on RSPB monitored land in 2017.

Royal Botanic Gardens Kew

lord blencathra: To ask Her Majesty's Government what discussions they have had, or intend to have, with Kew Gardens concerning making available from their plant library those species which have suffered serious loss or destruction in the Turks and Caicos Islands, the British Virgin Islands, and Anguilla.

lord gardiner of kimble: Following the devastating impact of this year’s hurricane season on our Caribbean Overseas Territories, addressing the affected Territories’ immediate humanitarian and security needs is the highest priority for Her Majesty’s Government. Defra has had preliminary discussions with the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew about the Territories’ likely environmental recovery needs. Once the Territories are in a position to evaluate and address their environmental recovery needs, Defra will discuss with the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew and the Territories how Kew’s plant materials, technical assistance and scientific expertise can contribute to the restoration of habitats in the Turks and Caicos Islands, the British Virgin Islands and Anguilla.

Home Office

Asylum: Children

lord hylton: To ask Her Majesty's Government how many children have been reunited with family members in the UK under Article 8.2 of the Dublin Regulation.

baroness williams of trafford: At present we do not publish data on cases covered by the Dublin Regulation. Eurostat, the EU’s statistics agency, regularly publishes Member State figures, which can be found at:http://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/statistics-explained/index.php/Dublin_statistics_on_countries_responsible_for_asylum_applicationThe Government has committed to publishing regular updates on the number of unaccompanied asylum seeking children transferred to the UK from Europe, including those transferred under the Dublin Regulation. This data will be published in the coming months.

Immigration

lord hylton: To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Williams of Trafford on 24 July (HL980), how many grants of discretionary leave to remain have been made to persons unable to leave the country through no fault of their own and where there is no prospect of enforced removal, in (1)the current year, and (2) each of the two previous years.

baroness williams of trafford: Whilst there is provision to grant discretionary leave to remain where someone has been unable to leave through no fault of their own and there is no prospect of enforced removal, we do not grant such discretionary leave for the sole reason that removal cannot be enforced. Those who have no right to remain in the UK are expected to leave voluntarily and should take all reasonable steps to do so. The overall numbers of discretionary leave grants are published on the Immigration Statistics webpage and the most recent release is available from:https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/immigration-statistics-april-to-june-2017-data-tables The breakdown for years 2014-2016 is as follows:   YEAR  TOTAL APPLICATIONS  TOTAL INITIAL DECISIONS  GRANTS OF DISCRETIONARY LEAVE201630,74724,895114201532,73328,662227201425,03319,782200

HM Treasury

Amazon: Taxation

lord hain: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the conclusions of the report by the Centre for Economics and Business Research Bookselling Britainthat bookshops pay 11 times more tax than Amazon, and whether they have plans to address this.

lord bates: The UK levies corporation tax on companies based on the profits generated by their economic activity undertaken in the UK. The Government has announced a number of recent changes to reinforce that principle, including a restriction to the deductibility of corporate interest expense, which is due to increase receipts by around £1bn per annum. The Government also continues to consider, at both a domestic and international level, whether the existing tax rules deliver that principle for new digital business models. For instance, the UK actively supports the OECD’s Task Force on the Digital Economy, which has been mandated to explore these issues.